JANET MEDDLES

Bright moonlight sparkled on the snow when Kit left Ashness to post some letters he had written ordering new machines.  He was young, but since he came home Peter had allowed much of the business of the farm to fall into his hands.  Kit’s judgment was sound; he had studied modern methods at the agricultural college and was progressive without being rash.  For the most part, his experiments had paid, and Peter sometimes thought the lad’s talents were wasted in the quiet dale.  Kit had ability, particularly for management.  Then, although he was rather reserved, people trusted him and often asked his advice.

Peter knew Kit was satisfied to stay at Ashness; but, for all that, if the lad felt he wanted a wider field for his energies later, he would not stand in his way.  The time might come when he must let him go, for Peter had a brother who had got rich in America and was willing to give his nephew a start.  Indeed, Adam had written again not long since, asking if Peter was going to send him.  It was a relief when Kit laughed and declared that he did not mean to leave Ashness yet.

When he passed Allerby mill Kit looked about.  Icicles covered the idle wheel, a snow cornice hung over the flagged roof, and water splashed softly in the half-frozen race.  Farther on, the snowy road was checkered by the shadows of hedges and bare trees.  Low roofs, touched by hoar-frost, rose behind the trunks, and here and there a gleam of yellow light shone out.  The road, however, was empty, as Kit was relieved to note.

He had once or twice recently, when he went to the post in the evening, met Janet Bell coming from the little shop in the village.  In fact, the thing began to look significant.  Kit was sorry for Janet, because Bell’s rule was harsh and his neighbors extended their dislike for him to his family.  All the same, Kit did not trust the girl and would sooner she left him alone.  He might be taking too much for granted, but romantic pity was a treacherous guide; Janet was pretty and clever, and he was human.  He had thought about changing the time he went to the post, but felt it would be cowardly.  Besides, he was occupied all day and letters could not be written until the outside work was done, while a postman called at Allerby early in the morning.

There was, however, nobody about and for a minute or two Kit went on at a quick pace.  He passed Bell’s house, and then hesitated with a frown as a figure he thought he knew came round a bend in front.  Close by, the tall hedgerow was broken by a stile, from which a path led across a field and joined the road farther on.  He was in the moonlight and if he vanished the thing would look too marked.  Moreover, there would be something ridiculous about his running away.

Kit went forward, wondering whether Janet had noted his hesitation, and she stopped him near a big ash-tree.  The shadow of the branches made a black, open pattern on the snow and a belt of gloom lay behind the wide trunk.  Kit would sooner Janet had stopped in the moonlight, since the villagers often went to the shop and post in the evening, and his standing in the shadow gave a hint of secrecy to the accidental meeting.  He thought it strange that Janet did not see this.